Hey there, im new to computer forensics and would like to get some input on a certificate course that I would like to take at the College of Lake County. Right now I only have an Associates degree as a Computer Technician but im very interested in this forensics stuff. Just wanted to ask what you guys think about this course and if anybody here has been there or knows more about it.
here are the subjects for the Computer Forensics Analyst Certificate course
-Introduction to Computers
-Windows Operating System
-Linux Operating System
-Introduction to Local Area Networks
-Network Security Fundamentals
-Introduction to Computer Forensics
-Digital Evidence Recovery
-Advanced Digital Evidence Recovery
-Analysis of Digital Media
-PC Hardware Fundamentals
Total Hours for Certificate . . . . . . . . 30
this is a link to their main page
I have also cheked about the Sans courses and other ones that are shorter certificates but im afraid those are too advanced for me right now. Thanks im hoping to make a decision and start the course in August.
Well, just as a quick look I can share this. They have the right classes listed and being a community college suggests it is a very economical approach for you. They certainly are something I would revisit with some questions. First, are they accredited? While they talk about participating in the Higher Learning Commissions Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), they never clearly state they are accredited which bothers me. I just don’t know enough about AQIP to say, but it seems they are accredited. They would just have to “show me” before I continued.
Then I would like to see the list of who has taught what classes. See what experience they have. You can expect to see at least half of the classes will be taught be full time faculty. Hopefully not lots more than half. You should hope that some of the classes are taught by part time adjuncts from the local law enforcement community. These guys aren’t professional teachers but do bring the real-world that you should be getting from the program. My hope would be a couple of cops are teaching the forensics “stuff.”
Thanks! I have checked about the instructors. They say they have people working in the field as instructors.
I took this from the page
About the Instructors
Sanjay Kumar, computer information technology instructor, describes the instructors as very well trained and well qualified. "They come with a lot of experience from the industry. So, we have seen what the industry is looking for [in a computer forensics professional]."
Dan Dainton explains, "We have adjunct faculty from both law enforcement and also from federal agencies who have years of experience in this field and are able to add to our program and give our students perspective on computer forensics concepts and techniques that would apply to the law enforcement side."